PM and Ministers to visit Australia

Prime Minister John Key will travel to
Sydney from 6 to 8 February 2014 to meet with Australian
Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

“Australia is New
Zealand’s closest international partner and our
relationship is vitally important to New Zealand’s trade
and economic interests,” says Mr Key.

“I am looking
forward to meeting with Prime Minister Abbott again and
building on the close working relationship that has
developed between our two Governments.

“It will be an
opportunity to thank him in person for inviting New Zealand
to join the G20 meetings, which Australia is hosting this
year, and discuss our joint response to the New Zealand and
Australian Productivity Commissions’ report.”

Mr Key
will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Bill English
and five other Ministers – Steven Joyce, Judith Collins,
Tony Ryall, Amy Adams and Michael Woodhouse. Mr Key will
join with Prime Minister Abbott to chair a joint meeting of
Cabinet Ministers.

“The joint meeting of Cabinet
Ministers is a good opportunity to set the agenda for the
trans-Tasman relationship, and allows Ministers to engage
directly with their counterparts on a range of issues and
identify areas where we can build on our close
cooperation.

“I will also be joined by a sizable New
Zealand business delegation. Their participation recognises
the important role two-way trade and investment plays in the
relationship between our countries and the integrated nature
of our economies under our Closer Economic Relations (CER)
agreement,” says Mr Key.

It is the third time since 2009
the Prime Ministers of New Zealand and Australia have
convened a joint meeting of senior Cabinet Ministers.

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